Creative unveils MuVo 2 MP3 players

Plus: Sharp extends Actius notebook line

Common Topics

Reg Kit Watch

MP3 Player

Creative has followed up its MuVo compact Flash drive MP3 player with a beefier model the MuVo 2. In place of the older ciggie lighter-style case comes a 6.6 x 6.5 x 2cm (2.6 x 2.6 x 0.8in) shell. It weighs 90.7g (3.2oz) with a battery.

The player features 1.5GB of storage. Whether it's solid state or something else isn't clear. The UK press release talks of a "1.5GB micro disk", while Creative's web site doesn't refer to any specific storage technology, but notes that it operates as a "USB flash drive with any PC".

In either case, music tracks can be transferred to the device across a USB 2.0 connection.

Musically, the player offers a signal to noise ratio of up to 98dB - "as good as expensive hi-fi systems!" claims Creative. It also features a four-band equaliser with four pre-sets.

The MuVo 2 goes on sale in the UK next month for £199.99. In the US it will retail for around $230.

Creative is also preparing a yellow, ruggedised version for joggers. The MuVo 2 X-trainer offers 1GB of "skip-free" storage, so presumably this model is indeed entirely Flash based, something also suggested by the $499 price tag. For the less well-off aerobics practitioner, there's a 512MB model for $270.

All three models have an FM radio receiver option: the standard $70 Nomad remote control/radio unit. Alas none support the recording of radio programming.

Notebook

Sharp has added an extra model to its Actius notebook like. The AV18P offers Centrino-style 802.11b wireless networking, but is based on AMD's Athlon XP-M 1800+ processor.